I tried to start a new thread (my first) with this question, but could not get it to go through. I am a newbie, so this may be a dumb question, but . . .
Can a 12 volt, 17 AH Jump-Start battery be used as a power source for a charger such as the Cellpro Multi 4 or the Icharger 106B+? Is 17 AH sufficient? Are there any disadvantages? Thanks. Gary

I created a new thread for you. Basically, all you need to do is figure out which forum you want to post in, then create your thread there using the "New Thread" button located at the top left of the forum. I put this in the General Electric Discussions for you.

As to your question, yes you can use that battery to charge with, depending on how big your packs are (if 3 cell packs, you should be just fine). When I first started, I bought a deep cycle marine battery to take to the field with me. But now I just use my car battery.

i tried the cellpro 4 on a car jumpstart battery,it gave me the insufficient power code after 1 3cell being on it for a while. go with the marine cycle battery. i bought one of those and never used it. it sits brand new in the garage. I'll sell it to you cheap and shipping will cost a fortune....

narrow is the place to land...wide is the space to crash....choose the narrow way!

That depends where you are, might work pretty well in California but try it in north Scotland and results wont be as favourable.

Also bear in mind that it would take days for a small solar panel manufactured by solar panelsto put back in what you take out by charging several LiPos. A panel wont keep the battery charged 'in real time'.

Yes it does good favorable conditions..In california these panels are surely very effective...

Buy a good deep cycle battery, and don't buy one of those wally world never starts.

Yeah
Agreed on that. For fairly low currents, such as would be used while charging a 3S 2000 Mah LiPo battery, those deep cycle batteries will last a long time.

Just don't load down your deep cycle battery to the point where it is completely discharged in 8 -10 hours though. Doing so is really hard on them, and they won't last long.

I was discharging my 120 Amp Hour name brand deep cycle battery with a 40 Amp discharge level, and got less than 6 months life out of it. After that 6 months, a full charge still showed dead on all cells with a battery hydrometer.

Takes at least enough panels to output 30 watts to charge a 3S 2200 mah pack at 1C.
To ensure you have that much output you might need 60 watts (nominal) of panels. Appx 1 to 1.5 sq yds of typical solar cells.

I've got the harbor freight solar panel set installed on top of my airplane trailer, plus 1 more panel for 60 watts nominal. Its been working great for over 4 years. I also used 2 deep cycle marine batteries which are dead now... but considering the use they did fine.

Very good around here for solar. Low number of cloudy days.

I'll be adding 3 more panels (45 more watts for 105 watts total) and going to more battery capacity. The 12S 5000 mah pack sets I charge need it.

I have been using a Jump Start pack hanging off the side of my workbench for years as a power supply for my chargers. I have a Cellpro 4S and a Triton charger for charging NiMh and Lipo packs.

My packs tend to be smaller, in the 1000 to 2500 mah in NiXX and Lipo. Never had a problem but I typically only do a few at a time. If I am going to do a LOT of charging I plug in the charger for the jump start pack while I am using it. It has a 500 ma wall wart charger.

I have a second one that I use at the field to charge 1000 to 1300 mah lipos and to top up the 1500 mah NiMh pack on my gliders. Again, never had a problem.

If you get insufficient power then your jump start pack needs to be charged.

I have been using a Jump Start pack hanging off the side of my workbench for years as a power supply for my chargers.

My packs tend to be smaller, in the 1000 to 2500 mah in NiXX and Lipo. Never had a problem but I typically only do a few at a time. If I am going to do a LOT of charging I plug in the charger for the jump start pack while I am using it. It has a 500 ma wall wart.

If you get insufficient power then your jump start pack needs to be charged.

I have a second one that I use at the field to charge 1000 to 1300 mah lipos and to top up the 1500 mah NiMh pack on my gliders. Again, never had a problem.

What I've done in the past is to use a decent deep cycle battery, with a 10 Amp 120 VAC charger connected to the battery. Then, just connect your LiPo battery charger to the deep cycle battery, and go for it. That will handle just about any LiPo charge rate, up to a charge rate of 400 Watts, or perhaps much more.

Now, I've got a 24 Volt DC, 25 Amp fixed DC power supply with a 120 VAC input that handles just about everything.

You can buy a relayless automatic splitter to connect to car for charging a second lead-acid battery. So when engine starts - it clicks in and charges your second battery. When its full charged, the switch will drop out waiting for charge level to drop and it will click back in. It will cover two extra battery's if fitted.

They are available at RV dealers for sorting out the domestic battery's in RV vehicles.

You can buy a relayless automatic splitter to connect to car for charging a second lead-acid battery. So when engine starts - it clicks in and charges your second battery. When its full charged, the switch will drop out waiting for charge level to drop and it will click back in. It will cover two extra battery's if fitted.

They are available at RV dealers for sorting out the domestic battery's in RV vehicles.

My motorhome had that for the "house" battery. All it consisted of was a 75 Amp silicon diode. It was an old motorhome, now gone to the motorhomes in the sky.

The old diode systems were to put simply - rubbish because of the 0.5 - 0.7v drop across them. On boats we used to 'cheat' the alternator by putting a diode across the output regulator - this made the alternator increase to compensate for what it saw as a lower battery charge voltage state. Later systems like I mention above have zero voltage drop across them and alternator does not need cheating.

The battery I use in the field to charge my TX and flight batteries is a Odyssey brand PC545 and a PC680 drycell motorcycle battery. They usually last all day and can be fast charged with a cars alternator and some jumper cables or a 15-45 amp home automatic charger. They are not cheap but mine is going on 7 yrs old and still going strong. It is small (PC545 is about 3" W X 4.5" H X 5"L. They can sit on a shelf for up to 2 yrs before needing a charge.

For small LiPo's ... up to 1300 size in 2 - 3S .... then the Lawn Tractor accumulators are good ... but to be honest ... in small lipo sizes - best is to just buy more lipo's !! Forget charging at field unless a really good day when flights have been above average in number !

If you need to charge up a LiPo ... then use the car / truck battery ... most chargers have a 12v input .... if worried you may drain car battery - then start the engine and leave running while boost charging. But make sure you blip the throttle up faster than idle for a few secs to make sure alternator fully kicks in ... Usual idle on a car does not charge out fully from alternator, because exciter current hasn't been nulled.